CORE Project/Program Managers and Research Coordinators

Meet the CORE Project/Program Managers and Research Coordinators.

Project/Program Managers:

Emily Gallagher, RN
Project/Program Manager

Emily R. Gallagher is a research RN at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. She received her BSN in Nursing, and prior to this, a BA in Psychology, both from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Emily has worked with Dr. Jennifer Temel on a number of intervention studies in the areas of palliative and supportive care for cancer patients and their families. Her particular interests include patient-clinician communication, patient decision making, electronic medical record utilization, research study design and database management.

 

Marie Iannone, MS, CCRP
Program Manager

Marie Iannone is the Program Manager for the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In this role she supports CORE leadership with operational management of the program, staff management, project management, and assists with new protocol, grant, and manuscript submissions. She is a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and earned a Master of Science in Biomedical Science from UMDNJ and a BS in Biology from Boston College.

 

Upeka Samarakoon, MS, PhD, MPH
Research Scientist

Upeka Samarakoon is a Research Scientist within the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Program. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health. Her research experiences range from molecular diagnostics, genomics, and population health in areas of infectious disease, chronic disease and aging, and drug allergy. Upeka’s experience in project and program management includes both local and international experience in program design and implementation, grant administration, and regulatory oversight. Under the leadership of Dr. Areej El-Jawahri, she manages research projects in palliative and supportive care interventions in heme malignancies, and digital health interventions for patients with heme malignancies and their caregivers.

 

Chardria Trotter, MBA, MPH, CPH
Project/Program Manager

Chardria Trotter is a Project Manager who joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology and gerontology from the University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University, and a Master of Public Health with an emphasis on health management and policy from University of North Texas Health Science Center. Chardria has nearly 10 years of experience in project management, partnership cultivation, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and data integrity. Her cancer research experience ranges from health disparity, rare disease, quality of life, and patient reported outcome studies. Under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Temel, she manages a large multi-site study that focuses on the comparative effectiveness of early integrated telehealth versus in-person palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer.

 

Research Coordinators that work with CORE:

Grace Bizup

Grace Bizup joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in May 2024. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. In Psychology and a minor in Health, Ethics, and Society. Grace works with Dr. Nneka Ufere on HepHospital: A Hepatology Home Hospital Intervention for Patients with Advanced Liver Disease. HepHospital is a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and accessibility of implementing a home hospital intervention for patients with cirrhosis complicated by ascites. Additionally, Grace works on LiverPAL, an RCT that investigates the effect of early intervention palliative care for patients with decompensated cirrhosis and their respective caregivers. She is also involved with PALCARE, a cross-sectional study that seeks to better understand how patient quality of life is impacted by an advanced liver disease diagnosis. Grace is grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the collaborative and interdisciplinary CORE team. Following her time at CORE, Grace plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Daniella Bregman

Dani Bregman joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2025. Dani graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in History. Dani currently works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri and Dr. Jennifer Temel on SCOPE, a multi-site cluster randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of primary palliative care versus specialty palliative care on improving the quality of life of 1150 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and their caregivers. She is so grateful and excited to be a part of such a hardworking, impactful, and inspiring team. Dani hopes to gain deeper research and medical experience at CORE before pursuing her future career in medicine.

 

Ella Caruso

Ella Caruso joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Program as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2024. She graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in African & African Diaspora Studies. Ella works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri and Dr. Jennifer Temel on SCOPE, which is a cluster randomized comparative effectiveness trial seeking to evaluate whether primary palliative care is non-inferior to specialty palliative care for improving quality of life in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and their caregivers. Ella is thrilled to be a member of the largely collaborative and interdisciplinary CORE community. After her time with CORE, Ella plans to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology.

 

Phalaen Chang

Phalaen Chang recently joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator after graduating from Columbia University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior and a special concentration in Public Health. She currently works with Dr. Jennifer Temel and Dr. Joseph Greer on the THRIVE study, which is a supportive mobile application aimed at improving coping skills, symptom management, and quality of life for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Phalaen feels lucky to be working with and learning from the interdisciplinary team at CORE and is excited to see how her time here will inspire her future goals.

 

Alvin Cheng

Alvin Cheng joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. He graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology and a minor in Literature/Writing. At CORE, Alvin collaborates with Dr. Richard Newcomb on two key research studies. The first, SENTINEL, is a pilot study focused on training clinicians to deliver palliative care to patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The second, THRIVE, is an observational study examining patient-reported outcomes following hematopoietic cell transplantation, with a particular focus on identifying risk factors for developing chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). After his time with CORE, Alvin plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Olivia Cheung

Olivia Cheung joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in August 2025. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor Community Food Systems. Olivia works with Dr. Connor Johnson on the PointCheck™ Study, which investigates the use of a medical device that non-invasively measures white blood cell count to detect severe neutropenia in patients undergoing chemotherapy or another antineoplastic drug. She also works with Dr. Jacob Soumerai on a long-term follow-up study for BOVen, a novel combination therapy. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a collaborative and interdisciplinary team. After her time at CORE, Olivia plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

James Duffy

James Duffy joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in April 2025. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology. Prior to joining the CORE team James worked for two years as a Mental Health Specialist at Franciscan Children’s Hospital. He currently works with Drs. El-Jawahri and Jacobs on BMT-CARE, a multi-site investigation that examines the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention for the caregivers of patients undergoing HCT. He also works with Dr. Hobbs on a pilot study that is looking to determine whether patients with MPNs can engage in a Cardiac Lifestyle Program. James is incredibly grateful to be a part of the amazing team at CORE. After his time with CORE, James plans on pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology.

 

Laura Dunderdale

Laura Dunderdale joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2023. She earned a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Laura works with Dr. Jamie Jacobs on the INITIATE study which focuses on understanding and addressing the barriers to beginning Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in breast cancer survivors, particularly minority women. Additionally, she is working with Dr. Jacobs on the Coping with Caregiving study. This study compares different types of therapies to assess the efficacy in relieving symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers for individuals with cancer. In the future, Laura plans to pursue higher education in psychology to address barriers and improve health outcomes for all.

 

Shruti Gajjar

Shruti Gajjar joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and minors in Computer Science and Human Physiology. Shruti works with Dr. Gabriela Hobbs and Dr. Chi-Joan How on the MPN Cardiac Lifestyle Program, a pilot nutrition and exercise intervention study offered to patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. She is eager to grow from this collaborative, patient-centered research and plans to pursue a career in medicine after her time at CORE.

 

Jessica Giorgio

Jess Giorgio joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in October 2024. She graduated from Bowdoin College in May 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and Education. Jess works with Dr. Ashley Nelson on the CBT-FAST study which focuses on cognitive-behavioral therapy as a treatment for chronic fatigue in stem cell transplant survivors. She is excited to learn from and collaborate with a diverse group of interdisciplinary researchers in advancing life-changing research. After her time at CORE, Jess hopes to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology with a focus on providing holistic mental health care to children and adolescents.

 

Lindsey Hofflander

Lindsey Hofflander joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2025 after graduating from Brown University with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Lindsey currently works with Dr. Lau-Min on the studies, PATHWAYS and HARMONY, that use supportive care interventions to reduce the psychological distress and improve the quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. She also works with Dr. Boulanger on an interview study that assesses the psychosocial experience of patients living with lung cancer with brain metastases. After her time at CORE, Lindsey plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Joy Kim

Joy Kim joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Boston University. At CORE, Joy supports multiple ongoing research studies led by Dr. Deb Forst and Dr. Daniel Chiu, including ASCENT – an ACT-based supportive intervention for patients with malignant central nervous system tumors. Joy is passionate about pursuing a career in pediatric neuropsychology or health psychology, with a focus on trauma-informed care. In the future, she hopes to support pediatric cancer patients and their families through research and clinical work. Joy is thrilled to be part of the CORE team and deeply appreciates its commitment to integrated, patient-centered care.

 

Andrea Magallanes

Andrea Magallanes joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. She graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities, Health, and Culture. Andrea works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on HORIZONS, a multi-site randomized controlled trial of a multidisciplinary intervention for adults with chronic graft versus host disease. Andrea is grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from an incredible interdisciplinary team and plans to pursue a career in medicine after her time at CORE.

 

Ethan Markel

Ethan Markel joined the Cancer Outcomes and Research Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025 after graduating from Pomona College with a B.A. in Neuroscience. He currently works with Dr. Jennifer Temel and Dr. Joseph Greer on PROMOTE, a single-site investigation of a novel digital health intervention designed to improve quality of life and physical function of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who have received curative treatment. Additionally, he is also working on the THRIVE study, a multi-site trial of a mobile application aimed at improving symptom management and quality of life in patients with advanced, non-curative lung cancer. He is thrilled to work with and learn from the entire CORE team, and he plans to pursue a career in medicine after his time at CORE.

 

Cynthia Metri

Cynthia Metri joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. She graduated from Tufts University majoring in Biology and Minoring in Child Studies and Human Development. Cynthia works with Dr. Kelsey Lau-Min on HARMONY, a psychoeducational intervention to reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. She also works on RC-PATHWAYS, an informational and supportive care intervention for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Additionally, she works with Dr. Lau-Min on PDAC-PATHWAYS, a digital informational and supportive care app for patients initiating neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cynthia is so grateful to work with and learn from such meaningful work within the CORE team. After her time at CORE, she plans on pursuing a career in medicine.

 

Sean Miller

Sean Miller joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Science-Business and a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. Sean works with Dr. Richard Newcomb on THRIVE, a study investigating chronic graft-versus-host disease in post-hematopoietic cell transplantation patients, and on iHOPE, a longitudinal quality-of-life research study for patients with indolent hematologic malignancies. He also supports Dr. Newcomb with a social support study for patients with sickle cell disease. Sean values the opportunity to work within CORE’s collaborative and purpose-driven research environment. After his time at CORE, he plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Julia Pepper

Julia Pepper joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2024 after graduating from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Psychology. Julia works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on the SHIFT study, which tests the efficacy of a novel self-administered digital application to improve sexual health outcomes, quality of life, and psychological distress in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) survivors. She also works with Dr. El-Jawahri on the HORIZONS study, which tests the efficacy of a psychosocial mobile application to improve quality of life and reduce psychological distress for patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). Julia is very grateful to be a part of the group, and plans to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology after her time at CORE.

 

Trisha Rahman

Trisha Rahman joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025 after receiving her B.A. in Biochemistry from Wellesley College. At CORE, she works with Dr. Connor Johnson on the studies THRIVE-CAR-T, a digital-application, and PEACE, a palliative care intervention, aimed at improving the quality of life of patients receiving CAR-T cell therapy. She also works on a patient-reported outcomes study for patients receiving adoptive cell therapies. Trisha is very excited to be a part of the interdisciplinary CORE team. After her time in CORE, she plans on pursuing a career in medicine.

 

Roshni Sarathy

Roshni Sarathy is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE). She joined in July 2023 after graduating from UC Berkeley with a double BA in Neurobiology and Psychology. Roshni works with Dr. Laura Petrillo on the POISE study testing a novel palliative care and survivorship intervention for patients with lung cancer on targeted therapy. After her time with CORE, she plans to pursue a career in clinical psychology and continue engaging in health outcomes research.

 

Jen Silva

Jen Silva joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2025 after graduating from UMass Amherst with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Portuguese Language and Literature. Jen works with Dr. Jennifer Temel and Dr. Joe Greer on the TARGET-PC study, a multi-site trial of a targeted palliative care intervention for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Jen feels grateful to be a part of such an inspiring and dedicated team and plans to pursue a career in medicine following her time here.

 

Tessa Stewart

Tessa Stewart joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June 2024 after graduating from Pomona College with a B.A. in Neuroscience. Tessa currently works with Dr. Areej El-Jawahri on NAVIGATE, a multi-site randomized control trial which evaluates the efficacy of a mobile app to help patients cope with the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. She is thrilled to be working with this incredible interdisciplinary team and plans to pursue a career in medicine after her time at CORE.

 

Isabel Torio

Isabel Torio joined the Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE) in June 2025. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in creative writing. Isabel works with Dr. Jennifer Temel and Dr. Joseph Greer on BREEZE+, a multi-site type I hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of a brief behavioral and digital health app intervention for dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer. She is also working on the THRIVE study, a supportive mobile application aimed at improving coping skills, symptom management, and quality of life for patients with advanced lung cancer. She is grateful to be working with and learning from the CORE team. After her time at CORE, she plans to pursue a career in medicine.